Category Archives: Autumn

December is here!! November…came and left – FAST! Didn’t it? I feel like I merely blinked and it was gone. And now the most wonderful time of the year is quickly approaching!

I have a lot of good stuff to share these days as a lot has been happening and I’ve been making more of an effort to document these happenings and whipping out my iPhone at a moments notice! 😉 I think being a mom has helped me learn to have super quick reflexes!

Speaking of being a mom – Levi is now a ONE YEAR OLD! Can you believe it?! They certainly don’t stay little for long. It seems as though almost overnight he’s full of sass at times and has all these opinions about things. Not even kidding! He now shakes his head ‘no’ all.the.time. And he’s suddenly become a picky eater! And super independent with things now too. Where did my snuggly little baby go? He’s always itching to go explore 🙂 .

To celebrate his first birthday we drove back down to Matt’s parents. They let us have his party there – which worked out super well because that way he could be with family and close friends. It was a lumberjack themed party – which I thought was pretty perfect for the time of year, Movember and all that good stuff 😉 . It was a full house – I think there was about 26 adults and 12 little ones running everywhere! My in laws are pretty awesome for opening up their house to that many guests!!

It was so much fun planning this party. It definitely helped me to be more excited about the fact that my baby is now one year old! Pinterest is always a great inspiration and got my creative juices flowing. When I think about my theme “lumberjack” I think about flannel, outdoorsy, camping, roughing it, that type of rustic feel. So I incorporated a lot of natural, outdoorsy elements in my decor and tried to keep it as simple as possible. With this theme, I was able to utilize a lot of our camping gear as well as my winter/Christmas decor, so that helped us to stay on a budget! I had leaves, acorns, and pinecones scattered around, and used more rustic party supplies like birch “ribbon”, twine and burlap.

I printed off some fun lumberjack photos from Pinterest as well as some of Levi’s first few months…

Aww, look how little ❤

The key things I wanted to have at the party was a hot chocolate bar and trail mix favours, so those were fun to have and were enjoyed by both the kids and adult alike 🙂 .

My awesome sister took all the photos for me as I was busy prepping food/welcoming guests, etc… But sadly there wasn’t a picture taken of the hot cocoa table! I can tell you that it was fully stocked with many goodies! We had out both a vanilla syrup and a peppermint syrup (that I made myself). Then for the toppings there was both chocolate and butterscotch chips, whipped cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon, mini marshmallows and even salt! So people could have a salted caramel hot chocolate or even a peppermint one! There were many flavour options and it was thoroughly enjoyed. This is something I’ll definitely do again at another party 🙂 .

For the trail mix we put out salted peanuts, pumpkin seeds, banana chips and raisins. I had some “sweet timber” out on that table too which was Kit Kat bars stacked like logs and scattered some tootsie rolls to add a little sweetness to all that salty.

I made everything myself. I wanted a fabric banner and considered buying one on Etsy, but it was cheaper to make it (and was super simple!) I baked “pancake” sugar cookies, and also made both red velvet and chocolate cupcakes (black and red – lumberjack flannel, anyone?!)

I had picked up both the lantern (similar) and the wooden server (acacia) from Chapters/Indigo. The candle was Bath and BodyWorks “Pumpkin Pecan Waffles”! Mmm…it was especially fitting as lumberjacks are known for their big breakfasts!

We took our own cakesmash/ one year photos of Levi at a conservation area and then had those pictures framed an on display at the party! I was so pleased with how well they turned out. Little bottle brush trees were found at the Dollarstore.

Everyone came over for lunch and we served pulled pork on a bun with a side of brown beans and broccoli salad (which I nicknamed “forest of trees” – everything is on theme, of course!) with apple cider punch. There was other little finger foods/ snacks (s’mores kabobs AND s’mores dip!) and by the time we brought out the cupcakes everyone was either stuffed or had indulged in too many sweets already!

The birch paper straws I ordered on Amazon as well as the wooden utensils! The plates and napkins were from the dollar store.

“Sharp” cheddar and Pepper “Jack” cheeses 😉 . To keep things cohesive, food was placed on either white or wooden serveware. Some things were left to keep warm (pork in slow cooker, beans in a soup pot and S’mores dip in a cast iron skillet).

The cute little “log” place card holders are Kate Aspen and fit the party theme perfectly!

The cute “Don’t Feed the Bear” printable can be found on Etsy. The bear glass jar that I had filled with Teddy Graham’s was actually Matt’s that he had kept from his childhood! My sister let me borrow the brown teddy bear 🙂 .

I love how hard dad is laughing in that picture above!

He thoroughly enjoyed that cupcake 😀 !

You can kind of see the hot chocolate table set up behind us under the window and photo banner.

Levi was gifted some really cute clothes, a few toys and lots of great books!

Levi and I got a few cute pictures with my younger brother and sister. I loved that a few people dressed up in the lumberjack flannel shirts to fit the theme!

Poor Levi had so much fun but was so hopped up on that cupcake and was in dire need of his afternoon nap! He was super tired after all the party festivities came to an end.
It was awesome to be back around family to celebrate the blessing this kid is! Matt and I feel so fortunate that he’s ours and that he has such a wonderful extended family who loves him and prays for him regularly. We are truly blessed. ❤️

I’ve had some fun decor out since mid September and it feels all homey in here (I mean, is there really enough time to enjoy Fall decor before Christmas stuff comes out otherwise?!). The leaves are just starting to get some colour in them and the temperatures have been dropping to the most comfortable degree.

We had our first family outing to a local orchard yesterday and Levi had so much fun. It’s his first Fall (cannot BELIEVE he’s going to be ONE in November! 😦 ) It was great to take him on the hay ride, and see the pumpkin patch – he was smiling from ear to ear! ❤

We got a bag of delicious honeycrisp apples and I’m looking forward to baking with them and making some homemade applesauce for Levi!

Tonight I’m going to be making some pumpkin cookies with cinnamon frosting – I tell ya, all the best eats are in the Fall 😀 ! I’ll be sure to share the recipes. 😉

Happy Wednesday, friends and followers! I hope the weather is nicer where you are… it’s pouring here, and cold and WINDY! But, nevertheless, it’s Fall ❤ – which I know a lot of you love – and it’s another day on earth. A great day to be alive, and there’ll be sunnier days ahead for sure!

I haven’t blogged in quite awhile, and the inconsistency has been bothering me. I’ve not only been busy working, but lately I’ve definitely been feeling the pressure of prepping as best I can for our baby’s arrival. I’m 34 weeks and he’ll be here before we know it!

We arranged for a day last week to just focus on “Baby K” – and it was so nice. We scheduled a 3D ultrasound in the early afternoon and it was such a cool experience! We only really went because we had heard that the military offered free packages with this one ultrasound clinic…and it just so happens to be in one of the cities we pass through on our way back to our hometown to visit family (I believe God is in the small stuff too 😉 ).

It was SO personal, very comfortable (didn’t have to drink all that water beforehand!) and as non-medical as any ultrasound can be. No gown was required, and we got to view our baby boy on a big screen T.V.! Matt even got to watch from one of the leather couches in the room!

The package we were entitled to included a free 30 minute session (it actually went longer as we were trying to get him to move a bit for a different picture than what she had already taken), a DVD slideshow (set to nursery music, of course 😉 ) of the whole thing! Also, we got 5 photographs (of our choosing) while he rest of the pictures taken were put on a CD. This is great because we can make as many copies of prints as we like! We also could have had an online broadcasting of the ultrasound (if we were posted where family wasn’t so close by) – which is such a nice thing to have in a military package!

The pictures were pretty clear, although a lot of them are quite similar as he was (trying) to sleep! There are subtle differences as we saw him move his lips around ever so slightly in a sucking motion. 🙂 From what it looks like, he definitely has his daddy’s chin. And we saw that he has hair already, too!

We even saw him PEE – SO crazy! – but that was before she “started” officially recording or taking photographs 😛 .

I just can’t wait to meet this cute little guy! ❤

Later that evening we met up with our talented photographer for a maternity photo shoot! I was really excited to have some Fall pictures, and we planned for an outdoor session at this beautiful picturesque site called Decew Falls. Home to two waterfalls, hiking trails and a historic mill – I knew we’d get some great shots! Matt and I used to hike here before he joined the Canadian Forces, so it was nice to revisit. Our photographer was awesome, and she really was able to capture my vision in all her pictures. I’m so pleased with the lighting and the angles of every shot! She was quick to put up a “sneak peak” of our maternity session with her! Here are some of my favourites:

The trees were in all their colourful glory and Laura Fretz Photographysurely did not disappoint! I’m eager to see the rest of the pictures. 😀

PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! Ok, maybe not pumpkin everything, but I’ve been wanting to whip up pumpkin recipes left, right and center, in anticipation for the Fall season!

This recipe is pretty easy, and it can save you loads of moolah if you’re one of the many who frequent your local Starbucks and wait in their long lineups for their undoubtedly tasty (but overpriced) treats! These Pumpkin Scones are irresistibly delicious with their fluffy and moist (due to the pumpkin) scone base and their not one – BUT TWO kinds of glazes! Once you mix up your batter (which doesn’t require a mixer), knead the dough and cut them into triangles you’re golden! Also, let it be known that you’re saving yourself 90 calories choosing to eat one of these homemade versions rather than picking one up at Starbucks!

Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious

Makes 8 Scones

I had fun making this “recipe card”, however there is one small typo. Just to reiterate, you’re **cutting each rectangle into TWO triangles, making 8 triangles.** This is the step before placing the scones onto the baking sheet.

Let it be known that the dough CAN be fairly tacky, so you can lightly flour your hands when kneading, and flour the knife/cutter before making into triangles.

**Also, if you’ve made my Pumpkin Pie Spice then 4 tsps. of THAT will substitute the ingredient additions of the ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger.**

Let me know if you decide to try them! They’re too good to pass up 😉 . Happy Monday, all!

Happy Sunday, friends and followers! It’s a B-E-A-Utiful sunny day here today. The temperature is cool and comfortable and I’m just sitting here enjoying a homemade pumpkin spice latte (more on THAT later 😉 ), listening to one of Elevation Worship’s albums. I hope today is your day of rest, too, and your time can be spent amongst your family and friends.

Last night as I was perusing through good ol’ Pinterest, I came across a recipe for a Pumpkin Spice recipe, and I wanted to share it with you. I made a few adjustments of my own, made a couple pumpkin spice lattes with it and believe me – tasty!

Why bother to pre-make a pumpkin spice mix? Well, for one thing it’s super simple, and if you love all things pumpkin (like me!) at this time of year then it’s handy to have ready-made! Secondly, it’s economical and good to know what’s going into your food. PLUS, this spice can go waaay beyond its namesake. Sure, you can make a delish pumpkin pie with it, but it can also be used in other baking recipes. It’s yummy in smoothies, on oatmeal, in lattes, mixed in whipped cream, in pancakes, on toast, and as a pumpkin seed or popcorn topping – among other things! I’ll post some recipes below to show more examples. So versatile. 😀

I have a few spice jars on hand that I bought at my local dollar store awhile back, but there are other really cute ones around that you can purchase (Williams and Sonoma)! One day when I’m feeling particularly OCD and ambitious, I plan to make chalkboard labels for all of mine. Right now, I just have a taco seasoning and the pumpkin pie spice, and so far haven’t gotten confused yet by my laziness unlabelled jars (although that would be a pretty awful tasting latte if I were to get them mixed up!) 😉

ANYWAYS! Onto the recipe:

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Ingredients:

1/4 c. (4 Tbsp.) ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp. ground ginger

4 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 tsp. ground all-spice

2 tsp. ground cloves

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together ingredients until well-blended. Store in an air-tight jar.

I love getting a few seasonal throws. It’s an easy and fun way to change up a room without the expensive commitment of a major room overhaul! Not only that, but they are practical as the days turn cooler. Call me crazy, but even in the Summer months I enjoy watching a movie under the weight of a throw over me! I also enjoy the punch of colour they give against a dark or light couch or armchair. Our living room set is off white, and so it adds nice colour contrast when there’s a throw draped over. It also helps to add some texture!

I’ve rounded up a few of my favourite Fall throws and they range in price. They all come in various colours too, which offers flexibility with your current décor!

Click on the corresponding numbers below to learn more details about each throw:

Aren’t they awesome? They look so warm, cozy and inviting! Do you love Fall as much as I do? Throws are just another something I happen to love about this upcoming favourite season of mine. It was just perfect to blog about them today on “Things I’m Loving Thursday” 😀 . Hope you’re having a wonderful week! ❤

The other day I had a bit of a crafty craving come over me! Does anyone else ever feel like that 🙂 ? I was just itching to make a craft or two. I had pulled out our Fall decor, and then I began rummaging through my craft supply bins. I started making a “FALL” sign for our front entrance (which I’ll share another day), and then it occurred to me to utilize the wine corks I’d been storing…

A friend of mine actually collected them over time, and asked if anyone would be willing to take them off her hands. Of course I couldn’t pass them up! After snatching them off her, they sadly sat, unused for roughly a year. I finally put them to good use, and they are looking pretty cute! 😉

This craft is super simple to make yourself and I, thisperfectionist, did it in about 40 minutes.

What You’ll Need:

25 Wine Corks

Green fabric or scrapbook paper

Scissors

Orange paint

Paint brush

Paper/styrofoam plate

Newspaper

Gluegun

Thin, crafting wire

Spanish moss

What To Do:

Pour a little paint onto your disposable plate.

Using the paint brush, paint the bottom ends of each wine cork (I used the bottom because the other sides had been punctured with the bottle opener). *You COULD just dip each end in paint, but I think using the brush would make it more neat.*

Lay each cork to dry on some newspaper.

While the paint is drying, plug in your glue gun to get it hot. (Also place on newspaper to protect the surface you’re working on).

Using the scissors, trace out a leaf onto the piece of fabric/craft paper you’re using. Set aside.

Once paint is dry, beginning gluing each row together. First (bottom row) is 4. Next row is 5, then 6. Then glue 5 more together side by side, and lastly 4 again (for the top).